Do write back and I will reply in haste as soon as I return. (Perhaps I shall take up Lyla’s advice and start using email.) I must go, for I still have strict instructions to leave Kaspar whilst I am away (you can imagine, I’m sure). All my love and greetings to your family.
Your friend,
H.M. Queen Carmen.
My lips parted as I gaped at the letter in my hands, which were trembling. I couldn’t quite comprehend that I was holding a letter – a letter never sent – written and held and folded by the Queen who I had heard so much about; the Queen whose death had torn the Varns apart.
Somewhere far away, the grandfather clock I always heard but never found struck nine and I came back around, realizing that the King could return any minute. Folding the letter back along the creases I slipped it under the newspaper, hoping he wouldn’t notice it had moved.
I lowered myself back into the chair, still feeling shaken – I had to grip the hard arms of the chair to stop my hands from trembling..
‘Good morning to you, Miss Lee.’
Hearing the King’s voice behind me, I sprang back up and bobbed into a curtsey, feeling like my cheeks were on fire, mainly from guilt after what I had just read.
‘Your Majesty.’
He strode around his desk, settling into his own chair and indicating I should sit too. I did, looking at anything but the King.
‘Miss Lee, in a few days time you will have been confined to Varnley for three months. In that time, you have been privy to many intimacies within my family and household, and, I hope, gained an insight into what life as a member of this Kingdom entails. Would you agree?’
I nodded. He shuffled his papers, shifting the newspaper and below it, the letter into a draw beside his chair.
‘I appreciate that your time here has been difficult and at times very upsetting, and that the choice presented to you is not ideal, but I must urge you to make a decision.’
I tightened my grip around the arms of the chair, feeling my fingers meet beneath each length of wood. He paused in his arranging, eyeing my hands.
‘Do not fret, Miss Lee, I do not mean now. But I feel it is my responsibility to inform you that you are at the centre of a growing political debate, both within the Kingdom, the United Kingdom and internationally, and that the only way to cool the situation is for you to willingly become one of us.’ No pressure. ‘I think it is also only fair to ensure that you are not entertaining any false ideas that your father or the British government will negotiate or fight for your freedom. In their eyes, your humanity is not a fair trade-off for the loss of life they would experience in return.’
I stood up so fast the blood drained from my head and stars appeared in front of my eyes. It took an enormous amount of willpower and a bitten tongue not to scream that he was lying. My father is coming. He just needs an excuse. And by the sound of it, he’s got one.
‘Miss Lee?’
‘I thank you, Your Majesty, for your input. I’ll consider what you have said,’ I replied, speaking through gritted teeth before I curtsied and marched from the room. I went to slam the door behind me, but the manservant caught it with a grimace, softly closing it.
Outside, I slumped against the wall, breathing heavily. What a liar! And if he thinks I’m going to turn because of politics, he can go and shove his choice up his—
Language, my voice chided, interrupting before I could finish my line of thought.
I remained there until my breathing returned to normal and I was able to think more clearly, thankful that the dreams gave me an upper hand. It was just a waiting game now.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Violet
Grabbing the towel I rubbed it over my wet hair, shifting my weight from one foot to the other in a sort of dance whilst humming an Elvis tune. The King’s talk of the day before was forgotten and I had woken up in an unusually good mood, partly from an uninterrupted, dreamless sleep and partly because the hope I had maintained in my first few weeks as a hostage had reignited.
‘Girly, what the hell are you doing?’
Like a scared cat I sprang up and screeched, diving for the nearest something to cover myself up – I was only in my underwear.
Why didn’t I get dressed? I mentally groaned. He chuckled, letting his eyes roam over my too-close-to-bare flesh.
‘Girly, the voiles you are trying to cover yourself up with are translucent.’
I looked down, cringing. It was made even worse by the fact that my bra and knickers didn’t match and that the knickers were more old-granny than sexy.
‘You should prance about in your underwear more often.’ He turned and walked towards the door, calling back over his shoulder. ‘But if you are coming out with us, I suggest you put some clothes on, it will be freezing for you outside.’
I let go of the voiles. ‘Out?’
‘Yes, out, Girly. Do I need to spell it out for you?’
‘Out,’ I mouthed. It seemed like an alien word, unspoken for so long. ‘Out, out, out,’ I whispered, liking the way my tongue flicked when I said it.
‘Out. You know, outside?’
I nodded in a daze. ‘Out where?’
‘To London. Now, hurry up, I would actually like to leave sometime today.’ He turned and left, slamming the door behind him.
I stood there in stunned silence for a full minute. London? Why the heck were they taking me to London? Wasn’t that a bit risky?
Apparently not, my voice answered.
But I could just escape, I retorted. My voice mentally chuckled in a mocking way that told me it would be eye rolling if it could.
Do you really think you can escape from several vampires? I think not!
‘I could certainly try,’ I mumbled back, aloud, getting dressed and sorting my hair. ‘But what if someone recognizes me? I was on the BBC and everything!’ I shuddered at the thought of that cruel day when I had watched my family suffer on the news.
I doubt anyone will. It’s London. Besides, no one will actually think you are the Violet Lee. And you won’t do anything.
‘What makes you think that?’
It’s too late for you to go back now, isn’t it, Violet? You wouldn’t leave even if you could.
It faded away, leaving me standing there, stunned and frightened at what it had just said. Is it too late? Would I leave?
Even as I thought those words my heart dropped. It was one thing having my father, well, rescue me, but it was another to actually make the decision to go.
Flicking the straighteners off, I ran my fingers through my hair, thinking it was sleeker than it had been in months. Coupled with the fact I had bothered with eyeliner and mascara, I actually looked presentable.